Brandon Carlisle runs with an interception vs. SMU at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 12, 2009. The city of Birmingham routinely buys blocks of tickets to help UAB's football program maintain its NCAA Division I status. But this year City Councilwoman Carole Smitherman is saying not so fast. (The Birmingham News/Bernard Troncale)

UAB football took a beating Tuesday -- by the Little League Titusville Knights.

The matchup was at the Birmingham City Council meeting, where the council delayed a $900,000, four-year contract to buy UAB football season tickets to give Councilwoman Carole Smitherman time to negotiate using a lot owned by the UAB Education Foundation for Little League football games in Titusville.

Smitherman asked for a one-week delay to talk with University of Alabama at Birmingham officials about using the lot, valued at $20,000, to expand a field at Memorial Park.

The city routinely buys blocks of tickets to help UAB's football program maintain its NCAA Division I status. The pending contract calls for 5,000 season tickets a year at $225,000. The tickets are distributed to city employees, youth groups and neighborhood associations.

Smitherman said she has tried since February to meet with university officials about the lot in Titusville. Both Smitherman and UAB officials say they have tried to communicate on the issue.

"We were told all the negatives, but I want to hear something positive, please," Smitherman said. "I'm asking for this city to stand with those Little League players who need that field expanded. I'm not asking for anything that is unreasonable for my district."

Ceil Snow, UAB's coordinator of city-county governmental affairs, said the property is not owned by the university itself, but the education foundation, which has a separate board.

"That's what we are working through, all the options that are available. We will do whatever we can," she said.

Councilwoman Maxine Parker, who chairs both the recreation committee and the city's Park and Recreation Board, suggested UAB representatives meet with the park board at its regular meeting this morning to discuss a compromise. Parker said the best time to negotiate is when both parties have something on the table.

The council has more leverage when the other group also wants assistance, she said.

"I want us to be mindful that we get what we're asking for before we take our vote," said Parker, who several years ago used the ticket contract as leverage when she wanted UAB to allow city schoolchildren to use its aquatic facilities.

Snow said she'd work to organize the meeting with foundation trustees.

Smitherman said she would support the UAB ticket contract, but wants assurances that university officials will work with her on the narrow 30,000-square-foot strip next to the park. A grand reopening for Memorial Park is Saturday following renovations.

Smitherman said she's not against UAB athletics, adding that she attends the games and has plenty of green-and-gold Blazer paraphernalia in her closet.

"I just need some attention to my request so we can get the property," she said in an interview later. "It's football for football. I have a need in my community, and you have a need to fill up Legion Field."